For plants to grow and thrive healthily, they must receive irrigation. Precipitation often does not provide the plants with sufficient water, so that additional artificial irrigation is required. According to studies, many consumers are therefore investing more in the area of garden irrigation in order to be able to supply the plants optimally. To ensure that your own garden can be optimally watered, timely planning is essential.
Contents
- 1 Know the advantages and disadvantages of a garden irrigation system before planning
- 2 Planning a garden irrigation system: here’s how to proceed
- 3 Place pop-up sprinklers and connect them with lines
- 4 These costs arise with a garden irrigation system
- 5 Practice tips: Watering the garden properly with the irrigation system
- 6 Author
Know the advantages and disadvantages of a garden irrigation system before planning
Builder Konstantin Matern advises all garden owners to carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages that an automatic irrigation system brings. “In theory, such an irrigation system is always a good thing. Nevertheless, it has some disadvantages that should be considered during the planning stage,” the builder states. One major advantage, of course, would be the immense time savings that automatic distribution of water brings. Even in the case of absence of several weeks garden owners can rely on the fact that the water is poured. In addition, watering takes place as needed, so water consumption is lower overall.
One disadvantage that comes with purchasing an irrigation insert is the cost associated with it. In addition, a great deal of effort is required to professionally install the system above or below ground. In any case, garden owners who plan to water the garden themselves should plan for additional costs associated with maintenance caused by clogged nozzles or leaks.
Planning a garden irrigation system: here’s how to proceed
The sooner garden owners start planning, the more precisely all the costs incurred for the system can be calculated. First of all, it is necessary to create a detailed garden plan, including all buildings, sheds, flower beds and lawns. Then you can draw and define the water source. When creating the water connection, it is necessary to determine the filling time for a water bucket. Based on these calculations, you can determine the exact number of pipes that will be connected either simultaneously or one after the other. For example, you can set up the lines by cardinal points, lawns or for flower beds and hedges.
Place pop-up sprinklers and connect them with lines
The next step is to place the sprinklers and connect them to the lines. Planning wisely is half the battle in this regard, in order to save additional spade digging. For example, if you need pipes for green areas, you only need to connect the water connection to the pipes. Lines for water sockets, on the other hand, can be strategically placed in front gardens, on the terrace or near the garden shed.
These costs arise with a garden irrigation system
Depending on the individual equipment, garden irrigation systems for 200m² area cost about 1,200 euros. If an additional irrigation well is to be built, this will incur further costs of between 800 and 1,000 euros. Systems that do not require a sensor and control unit are already available for a price of around 300 euros.
Practice tips: Watering the garden properly with the irrigation system
Basically, a balanced garden watering does not begin and end with the acquisition of a high-quality irrigation system. In addition, you should pay attention to a few things yourself to ensure that your plants thrive in the long term:
After each watering, you should check the soil condition. Ideally, the soil is watered to a depth of 20 centimeters, with young plants needing a larger amount of water.
- Ideally, set the irrigation system to run in the evening hours or in the morning. Experts define the “ideal” watering time between 3 and 4 in the morning, when the soil temperature is cool. The advantage to these times of day is that the water does not evaporate right back on hot days. From early May to mid-September, you should water at least every 3-4 days. Be careful never to run your irrigation system in strong sunlight. You could damage the leaves, on which hot water drops act like flammable burning glass.
- If the water demand is not sufficient despite the irrigation system, higher cross-section is necessary. Alternatively, the irrigation system can also be divided into a larger number of pipes, which can be controlled in sequence.
- Prepare intensively for the onset of winter! Already when planning a garden irrigation insert, you should include provisions for the cold season. It is necessary to build special drainage stations, so that you can completely empty the system before winter. Alternatively, PE pipes that you simply “blow out” in the fall using an air compressor are suitable. Remember to turn off the water supply before draining.
- In order to keep the costs of irrigation within reasonable limits, plants with a low water requirement should preferably be selected. For this purpose, plants that thrive well in the dry zone, such as agaves, ornamental grasses and herbs, are mainly suitable.
- On vacation, the garden watering system can be controlled with an app. The advantage of this technical achievement is the fact that it also continuously measures temperature and underground moisture. The system thus always selects the best time for watering.
